As I said in my post we as a team were not great but did the basics for a spell that gave us enough points to hold on to win. We were going nowhere in attack until he came on along with Fielden. With those two we finally managed to hit the Cas defensive line at more than a standing start. He along with Fielden caused the momentum of the game to shift (we were getting hammered territorially and only silly errors had stopped Cas from leading at that point). Without the impact from Feka & Fielden we would have lost. Therefore I consider those two to be pivotal to the win (coupled with our defence). Feka was the better of the two in my opinion due to not making errors in possession. That is why I would give it to him.

Bizarre. he made no more impact than Prescott tonight and at the point the game looked a little nervy was walked round a couple of times leaving others to cover in defence. Whilst I don't like to denigrate what is just an opinion, far too much clout for me is given by happy clappy fans to players who barge the ball in 4/5 times to great fanfare whilst letting the rest of the team sort out the defence/attack and ultimately the result.

JTB

Prescott was his usual self doing neither an exceptional level in either attack or defence but solidly doing a bit of both. He is a sort of under the radar player who builds the platform for the team without being noticed (IMO). We were flat going forward prior to the prop interchanges and lost impetus when the starting pair were back on. I have been critical of Feka before on a number of occasions as he is a luxury player as you need someone to cover his poor defence so that he can be effective in attack (and this diminshes the attacking power of the man covering his defensive frailties). I too have mentioned how people are misled by a few barging runs and ignore that he causes others to have to defend more etc. However tonight we were not particularly under threat from the Cas attack so his defence was not the weakness it would normally prove to be and his impact was important in getting us on the front foot (seemed to me to help morale as well) from being under the cosh. One swallow does not make a summer though and I am not nominating him for MOS. I just think he did an important job tonight. You don't agree with me, it may be that nobody agrees with me but lets not take over the thread debating the rights and wrongs of my opinion.

Feka Behave, total liability.

1 - Gleeson
2 - Phelps
3 - O'Loughlin

Roberts was my MOM, thought he was absolutely outstanding tonight, arguably his best game attacking-wise.

O'Loughlin had another great game, as did carmont and pat.

Apart from that, thought everyone was extremely average. Phelps was great going forwards but had a poor game defensively, and for those saying that if mathers had made those mistakes people would be after his head, mathers has never made the metres phelps does, nor the amount of try assists or attacking influence he brings.

phelps was for 65 mins excellent and for the last 15 mins made a few mistakes also letting cas back into game with their 2nd try which a dying game a bit closer than it should have been richards was good espcially the 80 yard drop out

Now then chief, I barely ever post on here but I'd just like to argue back against a few of your posts.

Just because you're Wigan doesn't guarantee "the good times" to return just like that. With the salary cap in place (sometimes ) and Overseas quota in place its begginning to make SL more of a level playing field and more competitive.
As for the abuse you took from Drunken Cas fans, all I can say to that is TOUGH. We brought what 3000ish tonight, there's gunna be the odd ****head. if 3000 came from Leeds Wire or as I'm sure you know, Saints, you'd get it. Myself, I study at Manchester and went via train last year to the JJB on my jack jones and was threatened to be shoved in the river....Bit rough because I'm always up for a laugh / banter with fellow fans, including bigger rival fans from Leeds etc. It's clear to see in your post that you're bitter yourself, bitter your team aint what they were, bitter your fans just turn up and accept mediocrity, bitter that at the moment Wigan aren't really going anywhere, bitter that the Classy Cas fans have more passion and loyalty in their voices then Wigan's? I don't know.
I don't wana cause a war or anything. The best team did win tonight, although nearly managed to mess it up!!!
Best of luck Hull KR next week.
Thanks for reading.

Pat Richards for mine, kicked two touchline conversions, set up two tries and didn't make any errors... unlike most players on the pitch (for both sides)

Carmont - threaning in defence, and awesome in attack - that try saving tackle in the opening 10 was awesome and right in front of me.

Phelps - got batterred and got up fightingicon_smile.gif

Roberts - one of the best games I've seen him play for us.

Special mention made to Lockers for THAT fantastic tackle. That was worth the entrance price for me.

Richards for me. Back on top form the big fella. Keep it up Paddy!

After watching the game back he's gone to the top of my list.

He made masssive metres, finished his try well, caught 2 really tough high balls and put a cracking hit in on Shenton coming in off his wing.

I praised him during the week and said i thought he'd have a great year next season. Those are the sort of preformences we need him to be churning out on a regular basis.

I think he knows in his heart that he hasnt been the same player for a good month or so now. He's back on form as far as i'm concerned, and not a moment too soon. Kicking well, taking the attacking kicks well [Set up 2 of our 3 tries]. This is the Richards we need for the playoffs.

Thought Hansen had one of his best games on the year, good running and really put himself about in defence.

I can't believe you actually think that.

Are you being ironic? Have you forgotten to take your meds?